"I'm really hopeful we can really put a stop [on opponents], improve this team as much as we can," Brown said. "If someone gets a hard hit, it pumps up the rest of the team, and that energy just keeps flowing and flowing. That's what we're planning to do."

Brown will play outside linebacker. Armendariz, previously a cornerback, will help on the outside because of his speed.

"It's very important to make big plays and stop them at the line, be aggressive and fast," Armendariz said. "Speed-wise, I think we can do a lot of damage at the line and get through all the big guys."

Armendariz said he likes that Loving is applying big hits and hustling more.

Armendariz said the current linebacker group isn't quite as aggressive as its predecessors last year, but it's getting there.